*/
Work is continuing on the Bar’s proposed self-funding civil justice scheme to “deal with nuts and bolts” ahead of Lord Justice Jackson’s final recommendations on litigation costs.
The Contingent Legal Aid Fund (“CLAF”) would be a self-financing pool of money used for civil claims where legal aid money was not available. Investors in the pool could see a return on their money.
Guy Mansfield QC, who is leading the group developing the CLAF, said they were looking at how it would be constructed in terms of legislation, how they would fund someone to run it, how they would manage costs, case selection criteria, and how much money would be needed up front. Mansfield emphasised the fund “should not be seen as a Trojan horse to take legal aid away from other cases” and would be an addition to, not a substitute for, legal aid funding.
However, the fund will not work if conditional fee arrangements (“CFAs”) continue in their present form. Lord Justice Jackson has hinted he may propose changes to the CFA regime when he delivers his recommendations, expected in December. In May 2009 Lord Justice Jackson published his preliminary report in his Review of Civil Litigation Costs. The report stated: “Following the retraction of legal aid, either CFAs or some other system of payment by results (contingent fee agreements, CLAF, SLAS, third party funding agreements etc) must exist in order to facilitate access to justice.”
The Contingent Legal Aid Fund (“CLAF”) would be a self-financing pool of money used for civil claims where legal aid money was not available. Investors in the pool could see a return on their money.
Guy Mansfield QC, who is leading the group developing the CLAF, said they were looking at how it would be constructed in terms of legislation, how they would fund someone to run it, how they would manage costs, case selection criteria, and how much money would be needed up front. Mansfield emphasised the fund “should not be seen as a Trojan horse to take legal aid away from other cases” and would be an addition to, not a substitute for, legal aid funding.
However, the fund will not work if conditional fee arrangements (“CFAs”) continue in their present form. Lord Justice Jackson has hinted he may propose changes to the CFA regime when he delivers his recommendations, expected in December. In May 2009 Lord Justice Jackson published his preliminary report in his Review of Civil Litigation Costs. The report stated: “Following the retraction of legal aid, either CFAs or some other system of payment by results (contingent fee agreements, CLAF, SLAS, third party funding agreements etc) must exist in order to facilitate access to justice.”
Work is continuing on the Bar’s proposed self-funding civil justice scheme to “deal with nuts and bolts” ahead of Lord Justice Jackson’s final recommendations on litigation costs.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability – Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse
